Staff-turning lathe



4 Sheets-Shet 1.

(No Model.)

D.H. 0HUR0H. STAFF TURNING LATHE.

Patented Jan. 15, 1895;

ni: Noms Parana co, wmommm wAs'mNsvN'. u. c.

(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 2.V

D. H. CHURCH.A STAI-"F TURNING LATHE.

Patented Jan. 15,1895.

(No Model.) `4 sheet'ssheet 3.

D. H. CHURCH. SEAPF TURNING LATHE.

N0. 532,532'. Patented Jan'. 15, 1895.

Mineses /nven or."

me Nonms PEfERs co, novo-uws.. wnsnmsmu. nA c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

D. H. CHURCH.

STAFF TUNNING LATHB. No. 532,532. l Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

` a 05 @L dif fd Y di f i Nrrnn 'STATES PATENT rrrcn.

DUANE H. CHURCH, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAFF-TURN LNG LATH E.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,532, dated January 15, 1 895.

` Applies@ filed November 11,1893. serai 110.490.614. (No man? To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatl, DUANE H. CHURCH, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new -and useful Improvements in Staff-Turning Lathes, of which the following is a specitication.

provide a machine which will turn down work to varying diameters in the production ofVV staffs for use in watch-making, and convert the blank into a completed staff. l

By this invention, a plurality of tools are brought to act successively on the work in varying degrees; and the proper control of the tools to bring them to operative position at the right times and for the right lengths of time, and other provisions necessary to the accomplishment of the design of this invention, involve numerous constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts, which will be particularly described hereinafter and the essentials recited in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a top plan View of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a part front elevation and part section of the machine. Fig. 3 shows a part end elevation of the machine, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. t shows an elevation of a portion of the same end of the machine, with a broken-line representation of certain parts. Fig. 5 shows a detail end view of the tool-slide. Fig. 6 shows the parts which appear in the sectional illustration at the left of Fig. l3, in a different adjustment from that shown in said Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a detail of means for discharging the work from the machine. Fig. 8 shows a detail sectional view, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2. Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the different styles of dead centers which are carried in the tailstock. Fig. 1l shows a completed staff, which is the product of the machine. Fig. 12 shows a section on line 12--12 of Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 13 shows a section on line 13--13 of Fig. 1, looking toward the right. Fig. 14 shows a section on line lfl-ltof Fig. 4, looking toward the left. Fig. 15 shows a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 2, looking toward the left.

The object of the present invention is to The same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In order that it mayfirst be clearly understood what work the machine is designed to do, attention is called to Fig. 1l, which shows on a greatly enlarged scale a staff, as it issues from the machine. It will be observed that this staff is of varying diameter throughout its length, and that the different portions 2, having dierent diameters, vary in their extent, and that the staff terminates at each end in tapering points 3. The blank when it enters the machine is in the form of a straight, round rod or bar, and the machine turns it down to the form shown in Fig. 1l.

y Of the machine, the work-supporting means will first be described.

The letter a. designates the head-stock, which supports a rotary spindle, adapted to be connected with and disconnected from thedriving power by a clutch a', which is operated by levers, co-acting with a cam on the main-shaft b. A detailed description of this construction is not here entered into, as the same construction will be found in other machines of like character. The rotary spindle carries a chuck a2, which supports one end of thc work.

The character of the work makes necessary the employment o f a plurality of centers for supporting the opposite end of the work; for, while in the beginning a simple center, as c (Fig. 9), with socket in the end to receive the work, is all that is required, further on in the operation of the machine the work is reduced to such an extent as to make necessary a rest to support it, and then a center of the form shown in Fig. 10 is employed. This center c is formed with an annular projection c2, through which the work may extend, and is cut away, as at c3, behind said projection, to admit the tool. This style of center is employed when turning down tapered points 3.

The tail-stock d supports a rotatable barrel d', which is formed with bores to receive spinvdles 0l2 supporting the centers, there being three' of these spindles shown in the present instance. The spindles are arranged in a circle, concentric with the barrel, and each is capable of occupying a position in an.axial line of the chuck-spindle.

IOS

Means are provided for advancing and retracting each center-spindle when in the .latter position, to engage the center with the Work, and to withdraw it therefrom, and the means here shown are as follows: A cylindrical casing d3, ailixed to the tail-stock, is formed on the interior with an annular groove d4, and is slotted, as at (Z5 on the under side, the slot obliterating the groove at this point. Each spindle d2 projects into the casing d3, and carries a sleeve d, having flanges C17, designed to enter the groove d4 and by engagement with the walls thereof prevent longitudinal movement of the spindle. When the spindle-collar is thus engaged With the said groove, the spindle is retracted; but when, under rotation of the barrel d', the spindle is brought into axial line with the chuck-spindle, the collar is disengaged from the groove by entering the slot d5, and the spindle may then be advanced for engagement with the work, and is advanced by a bell-crank lever (Z8, one of whose arms engages between the flanges C17, While the other is acted upon by a pivoted arm dg. The lever d8 is impelled in a direction to advance the center-spindle by a spring d10, and in the opposite direction bya cam (112 on the main-shaft, acting through the arm di. When the center-spindle arrives at a position in axial line with the chuck-spindle, the spring d10 advances the center to position forengagement with the work, and at the proper time the cam d retracts the center, and the lever d8 stands in readiness to enter into engagement with the next succeeding center-spindle.

The center-spindle is locked in its projected position by means of a tappet-rod d, acting through the tongue of a split bushing d (see Fig. l2) surrounding the barrel d' against the tongue of a split bushing d which surrounds the spindle and crowding said tongue against the spindle; a spring-pressed lever el actuating said rod; and a cam dis on the main-shaft, and co-acting with said lever. By acting against the bushing d the tappet-rod causes the latter to bind the barrel d and prevent any play thereof.

`The means for intermittently rotating the barrel, and stopping it at the required points to properly position the centers, are as follows: A bevel-gear e is aixed on the barrel, and is engaged by a bevel-pinion e on the upper end ot` a shaft e2, which carries a pulley e on its lower end, said pulleyv being engaged by a driving-belt e, which is adapted to rotate it and consequently the barrel in the labsence of suiicient resistance to prevent,`

butin the presence of such resistance the belt slips on the pulley. The bevel-gear e is formed with a raised rim e5, having notches e, corresponding in number and location with gagement prevents rotation of the barrel and causes the belt e4 to slip on the pulley e3.

Said pawl is disengaged from the notch at the proper time by a tappet-rod es, which is actuated by a hinged arm e9 in co-action with a cam elo, whereby the pawl is released momentarily and returns for engagement with the next notch brought around by the revolution ot the gear under inlluence of the belt e, which takes eifect immediately upon the disengagement of the pawl.

The tools f are secured to rotatable postsf which are mounted n a slide f2 on opposite sidesof a longitudinal central line of the lathe, and said slide is designed to move transversely in ways on the bed of the machine. A longitudinally'movable slide g carries the head and tailstock, and said longitudinally-movable slide is actuated in one direction by springs g connecting it with a stationary part ofthe lathe, and is actuated in the opposite direction and governed as to extent of travel bya cam g2, acting upon a roll which is carried by a pivotal arm g3, the latter projecting into a bracket g4, fastened to the slide g, and bearing against a screw g5 in said bracket. The acting surface of the cam has a form which produces the requisite varying degrees ot' travel of the slide.

The desired reciprocations of the transverse slide f2, to bring tools on opposite sides alternately into action, are effected through the following means: Cams h and 1l are affixed to the main-shaft IJ, and their acting surfaces are formed in exact correspondence with the work, the said two cams being reversely set, so that when a high portion of one is in action IOO the corresponding low portion of the other is in operative position. The said two cams h and i coact respectively with levers 71, and t', which are both actuated toward the cams by one spring 7' connecting their lower ends. These levers are pivoted in proximity to the transverse tool-slide, and have short arms 71,2 t2 above thepivots,and adapted to bear against parts carried by the slide. of slight extentas compared with the arms ht", so that motion transmitted to the latter by the cams h and t' produces comparatively slight movement of the upper arms. Other levers h3 i3 are pivoted to stationary supports, and their upper arms extend behind portions of the tool-slide; While their lower arms, which are shorter than the upper arms, extend behind pins h4 t" on the levers 7L t', and are adapted to be actuated thereby.

The object of the above-described arrangement of levers is to provide for a rapid movement ofthe slide during a portion of its travel, viz., that portion which carries one tool away from the work and advances the opposite tool to the work; and a much slower movement during the remainderof the travel of the slide, `which feeds the acting tool into the Work.

rPhe operation of these devices is as follows, reference being had to Fig. 3, Where the parts appear as when the slide has been moved The arms h2 t2 are IIO seaslfa direction, and the-tool at the'left-hand side is feeding into the work: The lever i" has 'been carried to a low part of the cam h by the spring j, and4 in its movement has actuated the lower arm of the lever t3, and this movement has been multiplied in the longer upper arm, and the rapid travel of the toolslide thereby effected. At this point, the opposite end of the carriage comes to bear against the short upper'arm h2 of the lever h', and the further travel of the tool-slide is controlled by said short arm and is correspondingly slow. Variations in tools are compensated for by providing means whereby the point at which their feeding movement begins may be adjusted, and this is eected in combination with the rotary tool-posts, as follows, the arrangement at each side being the same, and hence that at one side only being described: The tool-post has bevel-gear teeth k on its under side, and a bevel pinion lo meshes with said teeth, and is affixed on one end of a spindle 7a2, supported in a bearing on the tool-slide and carrying on its opposite end a spur-gear k3, which meshes with a gear h4, supported on a stud fastened in the pendent portion of the slide. Said gear h4 carries adjustable bearing-screws 165 for contact with the short arm h2 of the lever h', and there is one of these screws for each tool, and they are designed to assume operative position, asV

dothe tools, through the gearing described, so that, when the turning of the tool-post brings a certain tool into operative position, the particular bearingscrew which is adj usted for this tool is brought to position for co-action with the lever h. Access to the bearing-screws, for adjusting the same, may be had through an opening k6 in the pendent portion of the slide. (See Fig. 6.)

The means for rotating the toolpost, and for locking and binding it at the different po-A sitions which determine the operative adjustment'of the tools, will next be described. The post is connected by a screw with a stud m, extending down through a bearing in the slide, and carrying a gear m on its lower end, which gear is in mesh with a pinion m5 on the upper end of a spindle m6, to whose lower end is affixed 'a pulley m2. (See Fig. 13.) The belt e4 engages said pulley m2, and is designed to slip thereon when the tool-post is locked.

The tool-post is locked in its different `po sitions by a pin n, which isprojected into sockets in the under side of the post by a spring-pressed lever n (see Fig. 15), and withdrawn therefrom at the proper time by a spring-held tappet-rod n2, which is actuated by a leverns, in co-action with a cam n4. The means for binding the post to prevent any play or shake of the same comprise a lever o,`fulcrumed at one end between collars o on the lower end of the stud m, andhaving a projection o2 designed to bear against the gear fm', said lever at its opposite end being formed with a quadrant-shaped socket 03, and a lug o4,- a detent o5, having a quadrantshaped portion for engagement with the socket o3, and an arm adapted to engage under the lug o4, said detent being pivoted and spring-actuated in a direction to move its arm under the lug o4; a spring-held tappet-rod o6; a lever 07; and a cam o8. Whenthe detent 05 is engaged under the lug 04, the lever o is binding the tool-post tightly by the engagementof its end with the stud m and its projection o2 with the gearmand when the parts are in this adjustment, which is illustrated in Fig. 3, no play or shake of the tool-post can take place. At the time when the tool-post is to be turned to bring a different tool into operative position, the cam o8 actuates the lever o7, and thereby the tappet-rod o6 is pushed up against the under side of the detent o5 and trips the arm of the latter from under the lug 04, whereupon the lever o drops to the positionshown in Fig. 6, and the toolpost is released from its binding effect. 'After the tool-post has turned and when it is locked in its new position, another portion of the cam o8 acts on the lever o7, thereby again pushing up the tappet-rod 06, the latter in the meantime having assumed its normal position, and the tool-slide having moved so as to bring the lever o over the said tappet-rod. The tappet-rod now acts against the under side of the lever, and pushes the latter up to its binding position, whereupon the detent o5 springs under the lug 04, and holds said lever in such position. It will be observed that, when the lever o drops, its quadrant-shaped socket o3 rests upon the quadrant-shaped portion of the detent, and freedom of movement of the detent is at the same time* permitted.

The work, when completed,is discharged from the machine by means of the following devices: A swinging arm p is designed to go down between the head and tail-stock of the lathe and take the-work` therefrom, and to \this end is equipped at its outer end with spring-nippers p', which take the piece, and from which it is discharged by a jack p2 standing alongside the path of the nippers and notched in its end, so that on the return swing of the arm p the piece is received in the notch of the jack, and the further movement of the nippers disengages them from the piece and it thereupon drops from the jack. The arm p is affixed on a shaft p3, which is supported in stationary bearings, and is capable of sliding longitudinally therein to a limited extent. A spring p4 impels said shaft to the forward limit of its longitudinal movement. A spur-gear p5, affixed on the rear end of the shaft p3, meshes with a segment p6 on the upper end of a leverp7, which is actuated by a cam p8 on the main-shaft. Said lever is vbrated by the cam at the proper time to swing the arm p IOO i seance to position for taking the work and then to swing said arm back to position for discharging the work.l On the backward swing of the arm,it is desirable to impart a lateral movement thereto, in order to completely free it from the work, and to this end a cam-piece p9 is arranged in the path of the arm, so that upon the latter encountering said cam-piece it will be moved laterally, the longitudinal play of the shaft p2 permitting such movement.

The general operation of the machine, briefly stated, is as follows: The blank enters the machine in the form of a continuous rod or round bar, and passes through the spindle of the head-stock, which spindle is hollow. The proper dead-center in the rotary barrel of the tail-stock being positioned to receive the Work, the latter is engaged therewith, and the machine set in operation. The reciprocation of the transverse slide and the turning of the rotatable tool-blocks bring the tools to act consecutively on the work in the desired order to perform each its special part in the formation of the sta-ii", while the motion of the longitudinal slide carries the Work through varying distances so that each tool acts through the proper portion of the length of the Work. The dead-centers in the barrel of the tail-stock are changed at proper times, according to the condition of the Work. WVhen a staff is completed, it is taken away, and discharged iu the manner described.

The details of the operation will be understood from the preceding description.

The invention is not limited to the means shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lathe, the combination with a rotary work-holding chuck, of a plurality of worksupporting centers in a movable holder Whose movement brings said centers severally into axial line with the work while held in the chuck, and means for intermittently moving the holder to bring the oen ters to such position.

2. In a lathe, a plurality ot' centers in a mov able holder and having a path of movement which brings them singly into axial line with the Work, means for intermittently moving the holder to bring the centers to such position, in combination with a tool-carrier, a plurality of tools thereon, and means for moving the said tool-carrier to diereut positions which bring the tools to act severally on the work.

3. In a lathe, the combination with a rotary work-holding chuck, of a plurality of worksupporting centers in a movable holder whose movement brings said centers severally into axial line with the work While held in the chuck, means for intermittently moving the holder to bring the centers to such position, and means for advancing and retracting the centers when in said position.

4. In a lathe, the combination with a rotary work-holding chuck, of a plurality ot Worksupporting centers in a movable holder whose movement brings said centers severally into axial line with the work while held in the chuck, means for intermittently moving the holder to bring the centers to such position, means for advancing and retracting the oenters when in said position, and means for locking the centers when advanced and the holder in its different positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of November, A. D. 1893.

DUANE H. CHURCH. lVitnesses:

A. D. HARRISON, F. PARKER DAVIS. 

